What is excessive gas?
Passing gas on a daily basis is normal. The average person passes gas at least 10 to 12 times a day. If your child is passing gas more than double this amount in a day, this may be a sign of excessive gas.
Causes of excessive gas
Excessive gas (flatulence) is usually caused by swallowing air when eating or drinking. Also, foods high in fibre, such as beans and cabbage, and carbonated drinks can cause excessive gas.
Other causes may include:
- antibiotics
- constipation
- lactose intolerance
- irritable bowel syndrome
- minor viruses
Treatment
In general, your child’s excessive gas will not need medical attention. Most of the time, excessive gas can be managed by changing your child’s diet or making sure they are not swallowing large amounts of air when eating.
The use of probiotics (friendly bacteria) may help reduce excessive gas. Examples of foods containing probiotics include yogurt, soy beverages, and some juices. However, not all probiotics are the same. Some may increase flatulence. Talk to your child’s doctor about probiotics.
For more details about probiotics, please see Prebiotics and Probiotics
Here are some dietary changes you can make:
- Reduce the amount of fried foods your child is eating.
- If your child consumes a high-fibre diet, reduce her fibre intake. Do not cut out fibre entirely. Also, a product called Beano has been shown to reduce excessive gas common in high-fibre diets.
- Reduce the amount of milk your child is drinking to two or three glasses a day.
- If your child has irritable bowel syndrome, increasing the amount of fibre in their diet may help.
When to seek medical attention
Make an appointment with your child’s doctor if:
- your child is losing weight
- your child has loose stools that last for more than seven days
- intolerance to dairy products persists after dietary changes
Key points
- In most cases, your child’s excessive gas will not need medical attention.
- Simple dietary changes can reduce the amount of gas buildup in your child’s stomach.
- Foods high in fibre can cause excessive gas. Other causes may include antibiotics or constipation.
- See your child’s doctor if you think she may be lactose intolerant.